Elements of Style: The Surfboard

If you’ve spent any time on the West Coast, you probably know that to a whole legion of devotees, surfing is more religion than sport and that its vessel, the humble surfboard, is more icon than mere recreational equipment. The board, whose signature shape has remained constant since surfing’s 1950s heyday, has come to symbolize the bohemian culture immortalized by Gidget and the Beach Boys. As long as there are waves, there will be surfers riding them, and as long as there are surfers, there will be surfboards enshrined in home decor. Here are 11 ways to express your passion for the sport in your own home.

Interior Art

Surfer’s paradise. Southern California designer Rona Graf added some surf culture to this Laguna Beach bedroom through color choice and decor. The designer articulated every detail, from the oceanic palette to the hand-painted sunset on the surfboard, to evoke a wave-rider’s paradise, complete with a hand-carved Billabong logo in the gallery wall above the bed.

Parvez Taj

Morning wave report. Minimalistic and streamlined, this print by environmentally conscious artist Parvez Taj eliminates the need for a gallery wall by setting a tranquil mood in one glance. The ink wash re-creates the morning haze of an early-dawn romp in the waves.

Wilco Bos: Design + Remodels

Surfboard shower. You went, you surfed, you conquered, and now you need to rinse all that sand off before you’re allowed back in the house. A custom shower using a surfboard as a mount for the plumbing fixtures will be a refreshing sight after a long morning hanging ten. Anything custom can be pricey, but you’ll probably spend less going this route than with a fully enclosed stall.

About:Space, LLC

Big Kahuna lighting. Similar to the surfboard-as-shower idea, drilling some holes and adding bulbs can transform an old shorty (or skimboard, wakeboard or kneeboard, if that’s your preference) into a custom light fixture.

Vivendi - Luxury Home Builders

Gnarly gallery wall. When we think of surfers, we might envision Beach Boy bohemians from Endless Summer waiting in rustic shacks for the next big wave. Among the vast array of characters that count surfing as a hobby, even the white-collar ones probably identify to some extent with that free-spirited pop culture image. When bead curtains and waterlogged sofas won’t quite cut it, though, displaying prized surfboards as wall art is a classed-up way to bring the passion home.

Alex Amend Photography

Killer coffee table. In this coastal garage conversion, a skimboard was easily transformed into the perfect surface for a post-surf lemonade.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Hang ten headboard. A surfer-ly headboard is among the easiest to style, especially for a twin bed because of its slender proportions. For a larger bed, you could always line up surfboards of varying heights. Drill through the two outermost boards and fit them with reading lights for the grooviest surf-inspired headboard this side of Doheny.

NuDesign Builders Inc

Big-wave bar. Being relatively flat, sturdy and smooth, surfboards make for a brilliant countertop. Their narrow dimensions also make them especially suitable for a bartop.

MRF Construction, Inc.

Game on. In the family room, your clever surfboard bartop may be seeing more Scrabble than Bloody Marys, given that it works just as well as a game table as a bar.

Buckingham Interiors + Design LLC

Monster mural. The natural drama of big-wave surfing lends itself well to photographic wall murals. And just like the waves, the bigger, the better!

Couture curtains

Nice bookshelf, bro. Ladder shelves are great, but aren’t they becoming a little played out? Don’t settle for what everyone else is doing; if surfing is your true love, be an original like those who paved the sport’s way and recruit an old board to display your tokens of the sea.

More Design Motifs: A Passion for Pineapples | Flamingo Flair

The 4 Potentially Most Expensive Words in Remodeling

Picture this: You’re having a meeting with your contractor. The two of you are sitting at a table, discussing your master bathroom project, which is almost finished (and looking great). You say to him, “While you’re at it, can we go ahead and move the can light above my vanity 6 inches to the right?”

Without realizing it, you’ve just spoken four of the most potentially expensive words in remodeling.

Progress Lighting

Shane D. Inman

In your mind, “while you’re at it” is simple. Six inches doesn’t seem very far at all. An electrician is already working at your house, and you already have a can light installed. Bada bing, bada boom. No harm in moving it a few inches. But it’s not so simple.

In your contractor’s mind, these four words translate to “change order.” And while change orders aren’t evil — they’re necessary and inevitable in many cases — they are notorious for adding cost to a project. If you’ve worked hard to come to an agreement with your banker, your contractor or your spouse to stay within a fixed price, a change order or two (or three, or 10) can really throw your budget a curveball.

Mary DeWalt Design Group

The moral of the story is to be aware of what you ask your contractor to do. Moving a can light involves more than an electrician. The drywall contractor and painter will need to patch the hole where the light was previously, for example. Altogether, it could end up costing about $350 to move that light half a foot. That might be pocket change to some people. But throw in seven to 10 more “pocket change”-sized change orders, and suddenly your bill has increased by a couple thousand dollars.

To prevent change orders, try to think carefully about everything involved (paint colors, position of can lights, etc.) in your project before the start date to make sure they’re included in your scope of work and your contract. It will more than likely save you a few bucks — and a few headaches.

There is, of course, a chance that the professional you hired will move that can light for free. Every project and every professional is different. But odds are there are service fees (and a markup on those service fees) involved, so be aware of the implications of “while you’re at it.”

See more on understanding construction contracts

Design Theory Interiors of California, Inc

Here’s a quick rundown of some common change orders (the good, the bad and the ugly) I’ve encountered while working in the remodeling industry.

The Good

Adjusting doors. You’ve had a particularly wet spring and suddenly your house has shifted and the powder room door doesn’t open without a fight. In my experience, small “extras” like adjusting a door or changing a lightbulb don’t merit a change order.

Changing out a faucet. Want to salvage an old faucet you’re removing and reinstall it in another bathroom? This is fairly simple, and it’s likely that the cost will be minimal, maybe $150.

The Bad

Painting an additional room. So your contract stated that you were just painting the master suite, and now your daughter really wants her bedroom to be a different shade of green. This is an exceptionally common “while you’re at it” moment, and while it does incur a significant additional cost, it isn’t “ugly expensive.” Think $500 and up.

The Ugly

Structural changes. Looking into moving a door from one side of a room to another? Sounds simple. But sometimes simple can get ugly. There are several questions that need to be answered before the move can happen. Is there plumbing or electrical in the wall where the door will be moved to? If so, can we relocate it? Are there studs or any structural components that will prevent the move?

Structural changes are typically some of the most expensive change orders, so don’t get too excited about the prospect of opening up that wall before you know more about what’s inside it. Removing a non-load-bearing wall might run you $2,500 to $3,000. A single-story load-bearing wall could be around $10,000. And a two-story load-bearing wall will likely set you back $20,000 to $30,000.

See more on tearing down a wall

Ownby Design

There are countless situations where change orders may (or may not) be involved. Because of this, it’s important to understand how change orders are defined, executed and billed in your contract. And if you read through all the legal jargon and are still a little confused (which is common), have a conversation with your builder to clear the air.

Fewer questions about the contract translates to fewer times that you say, “While you’re at it,” which ultimately will cost you less money and time.

Less money and time — now those are four words I’d rather get behind.

More: 100 Contractor Tips to Read Before You Remodel

6 Tower Houses Rise to the Tastes of Today

Although most of us are fortunate not to need to live in fortified houses today, there is something about tower houses that continue to capture our imagination. We often think of towers as dark, foreboding places where water continually seeps through the cold stone walls, chilling us to the bones. Or places where our eyes are permanently dilated because of the dim light permeating tiny windows. But many architects today are successfully reinterpreting tower houses for contemporary life.

Benjamin Waechter

The materials used in construction are now no longer confined to stone (as in these old towers) and its structural limitations. The use of steel frame, timber frame and concrete has created myriad structural solutions. The choices allow for more flexibility in spatial planning, with virtually unlimited options for window openings, decks, roof terraces and staircases. They also allow for more possibilities with external finishes, which can include wood siding, plywood sheeting, sheet metal, composite panel systems, plaster or exposed aggregate concrete.

The Tower House in Portland, Oregon, is an unadorned, modernist, metal-clad tower set on a steep hillside and connected back to the land by a steel bridge. Its finish “gives the appearance of something ribbed, like a sweater,” says architect Benjamin Waechter. “It feels like a garment almost.”

Benjamin Waechter

“The Tower House has a strong concept in a sense that it really can be thought of as three rooms and a building skin,” Waechter says. “The reason for doing that is to make a hierarchy between the main rooms and these support spaces.”

A living space is on top, the dining room and kitchen are in the middle, and the main bedroom is below.

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

The nature of a tower raises practical issues to be addressed at the design stage. Tower homes invariably require rigorous spatial planning and difficult choices.

For example, tower dwellers may have to forgo some ancillary spaces or manage with smaller spaces. The practicality of vertical circulation between floors is another issue and usually confines most towers to three stories. How many people wish to spend their days running up and down tight staircases? Accessing the building at a middle level may alleviate this potential issue.

Balance Associates built the Glenn Lake Tower, shown here, on a wooded hilltop above a lake in Michigan. Two metal clad walls support a three-story plywood box suspended above the ground.

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

The primary living spaces stand above the dense surrounding woods to gain light, air and views.

marte.marte architects

Managing tighter spaces in a tower is more than compensated by the breathtaking views some tower dwellers enjoy. This small, unpainted concrete tower in Austria, by Marte Marte Architects, sits delightfully on a steep, sloping hillside. Accessed via a pathway and a short flight of steps, it is truly an object in the landscape, unencumbered with outbuildings or car parking.

marte.marte architects

“Semantically speaking, this gesture of the tower creates archetypes of fortified structures and abstract computer figures in your mind’s eye, making the tower seem familiar and strange at once,” the architect says.

marte.marte architects

At the entry level, an open terrace within the building footprint provides a panoramic view.

marte.marte architects

Oak-lined windows create framed landscape paintings inside.

uni architecture

Tower houses are not all confined to isolated rural landscapes. Here’s a unique tower house — XS House, by uni architecture — that’s composed of three stacked and rotated plywood boxes. The house is in a crowded suburban plot and therefore was designed to address the need for privacy and for light.

uni architecture

Despite the lack of large windows, the interior here is brightly lit by the single door and the corner roof light.

uni architecture

Four corner skylights draw natural light into the house, provide skyward views and maintain privacy.

Edward Ogosta Architecture

This is not quite a tower house per se, but rather a house composed of four towers. Rather than being planned according to a domestic functional program, the building was designed foremost as an instrument for intensifying a number of onsite phenomena.

Edward Ogosta Architecture

Edward Ogosta Architecture

It was designed by Edward Ogosta Architecture in Coachella, California, as a weekend house. The four sleeping towers are oriented toward four “spatio-temporal viewing experiences”: the morning sunrise to the east, a mountain range to the south, evening city lights to the west and nighttime stars overhead.

Axis Mundi

This is the Vertical House, by Axis Mundi. The entry is via a long and dramatic bridge to a viewing platform, from which one ascends a staircase into the house. The kitchen and dining areas are on the first level, the living area is on the second, and the main bedroom is above.

Axis Mundi

The architect says that the “Vertical House offers urban living on a rural site. The concept of a townhouse transposed to the country offers a unique solution to a difficult topology, and affords spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.”

More: Old tower houses adapted for contemporary living

How to Decorate a Coffee Table

A coffee table is many things: a place to set your drink, a footrest, somewhere to stash the remote and — of course — a beautiful decorative addition to your living room. Or, at least, it has the potential to be all of these things. Your coffee table can also become a cluttered mess if you aren’t careful, or a drab disappointment if you’re scared to get a little creative. To help you achieve style success, I’ve put together some helpful guidelines with specific situations so you can master the art of decorating a coffee table.

Meridith Baer Home

The Rule of 3

As in so many other areas of design, three is a powerful number for styling your coffee table. For any size or shape of table, a collection of three items is pretty much foolproof.

Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör

Keep in mind that this “rule” of three is really just a guide, not a strict policy. And sometimes what makes up those three items can be more complicated than it would seem to be.

In the example shown here, the vase is one item, the small covered dish another, and the pair of candlesticks can be considered the third. You could easily count this collection as four pieces (or more if you consider every blossom), but the items still feel like a grouping of three, and add up to an elegant look.

Aspire Estate Agents

Here, three small clusters of items are spread over a medium-size table. Even though it is technically more than three items, the small groups are spaced out enough to be clear and distinct. This gives the overall table that magic touch: The look is not perfectly symmetrical but not too busy either.

How do you know what items to choose? Here are some great go-to items and tips that can help in any situation.

Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör

How to Incorporate the Rule of 3

Use books as a base. There are diverse items on this artfully styled coffee table, but the look is still neat and orderly. That’s because the items are given a sense of structure from their placement on stacks of books, once again creating that distinction between three individual groups.

Beautiful books (or other flat items like serving trays or even stylish magazines) are a great base for layering. For the easiest approach, start with three books of roughly the same size, and stack smaller and smaller items on each. You can even use the rule of three again in each subgrouping for more of that design magic.

Cullum Design

Circles and squares. Books add smart structure, but if every piece is rectangular, the look can feel a little stuffy. This is where the circle comes in. Playing elegant curves against crisp rectangular corners mixes up the look for a classic combination. Try a circular vase, bowl, candle or paperweight either on or between squarer items to break up the lines and add visual interest.

Kate Jackson Design

Play with heights. Another way to add energy to your coffee table look is by playing with the heights of items. The rule of three can apply here as well. Try to achieve three different heights, using items of different sizes or by stacking them higher.

Putting the tallest piece in the middle can create a pleasing symmetry, but as we saw previously, sometimes a little intentional asymmetry can be captivating as well. As long as you add some height, the whole grouping will feel more dynamic and interesting.

CONCEPT SALTIN

Candles and flowers. Flowers and taper candles are two design standbys that will help your coffee table style reach new heights. Additionally, flowers add a pop of color, while candlesticks can add a flash of glam metal, so they’re even better together.

If you have multiple candlesticks, try slicing an inch or two off the bottom of one candle to vary the heights, adding even more interest.

Stockholm & Co Fastighetsförmedling AB

Easy being green. Plant life also adds energy, introducing organic lines that contrast manufactured pieces.

For a simple 1-2-3 formula, use a plant (flowers, a leafy planter or even an exotic cactus), a simple book (take off the jacket if it’s too busy) and a sleek metal or glass bauble.

Simon Mack Architecture

Simple asymmetry. It’s worth noting at this point that these styling suggestions so far are just one approach. If all of these rules and formulas seem overwhelming, try the easiest approach of all: one item (or stack) placed asymmetrically almost all the way to one end. This is very useful on long tables that would be hard to fill. Use that extra room to put up your feet.

Interior Design Journey Pte Ltd

An asymmetrical approach is also very effective if your table is beautiful in and of itself. Place items off to one side or in a corner and let the table surface do most of the talking.

Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors LLC

This look works on round tables too. Use one item or stack of items pushed off-center to create negative space like a true design expert.

Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors LLC

Square tables. For a perfectly square table, you may be tempted to use four matching pieces for a perfectly symmetrical look. However, you can get a more intriguing look by using two pieces or groups, one in each corner. Try a tall vase or lantern in one corner with a stack of two or three books in the other (and an airy sculptural accent on top).

Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard

Glass tables. Don’t forget when styling a glass coffee table that it’s not just about what goes on top, but also what goes below. A see-through table practically demands a graphic rug. Try a black-and-white rug and use similarly stark accents in differing shapes, or leave the top completely undressed and let the rug be the star of the show.

Park and Oak Design

Two-shelf tables. If your coffee table has a lower shelf, you don’t have to fill both levels, but if you choose to, try lining up the items on each tier. Use two pairs instead of threes, and don’t forget to play with heights. A lidded storage box or small basket can help keep the bottom level looking sharp while giving you a place to stash items like remote controls.

Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör

Unusually shaped tables. Plants are even more friendly when the table is an unusual curvy shape. Gently drooping blossoms like tulips are especially great, as the organic forms will work together with the table shape and you won’t need much other added drama.

Davies Design Build

Upholstered tables. If you use flat items (again, such as books) as a base, you can style an upholstered ottoman coffee table just like any other, using the previous tips. However, for a simpler approach, use one serving tray topped with a glass vase or dish, and drape a throw across the top to finish the look. It’s the casual no-fuss elegance that a tufted ottoman was meant for.

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

The no-brainer. Finally, for the ultimate no-fail coffee table solution, use two books (one slightly smaller and slimmer than the other) with a round glass vase. (The bottom book should be about one-third to two-thirds the width of the table.)

The vase can then be filled with inexpensive white blossoms, colorful tulips, a votive candle or nothing at all, for a look that is truly effortless.

More
Styling Secrets for Beautiful Buffets and Sumptuous Sideboards

How to Pick Out a Coffee Table

8 Ways to Make Your Remodel Last

With so many styles, products and materials available today, it can be hard to decide which ones will suit you best in the long run. My clients often have a difficult time committing to a design scheme. Since renovation projects involve an investment of time and money, people are afraid of getting it wrong. Although their tastes may change, I’ve found that when my clients follow these eight tips, they’re more likely to enjoy their renovation over a longer period of time.

Cornerstone Architects

1. Use durable finishes. If you choose finishes that will hold up well, chances are you’ll not only enjoy your space for years to come, but you’ll also save money over the long term. You may have to spend more for high-quality materials and products at the outset, but their ability to handle wear and tear means that you’ll spend less on repairs or replacements in the future. I often tell my clients that the only time they’ll regret spending money on high-quality items is the day they pay for them. Every day after that, they’ll be grateful to have spent the money on something that is well-made and beautiful.

Dyer Grimes Architecture

2. Pick calming wall colors. Our tastes tend to change through the years. Even our color preferences can change. But if you choose colors that are calming for your home, you’re more likely to appreciate them longer. High-energy colors can be fun and exciting, but in my experience, people tire of them more quickly.

Bear in mind that when choosing paint colors, many look lighter on a swatch than they will on your walls. Try a patch of paint on your walls before committing. If it turns out to be too saturated, but you still like the basic color, try diluting it with 50 percent white.

BDA Architecture

3. Add windows. You’ll probably never regret bringing in more natural light to your space or enlarging your windows. But please take measures to control the temperature changes that go along with large windows. Select window coverings to control the amount of heat that comes in during the summer and goes out during the winter. Also ensure that your supply vents are properly placed close to your windows for better climate control.

AKL Designer Kitchens

4. Limit novelty items. If you don’t go overboard with trends and instead pick one or two beloved standouts for a room, the likelihood of you getting tired of your choices is pretty slim. It’s easy to love something that stands out from the pack when you have chosen it wisely.

Prorail Systems Ltd

5. Bring in bold colors through accessories. I’ve found that clients are more willing to commit to bold colors over a longer period of time if they bring them in through accessories and art. Keeping an overall neutral palette allows these bolder hues to pop. Changing accessories is a much cheaper option than having all the walls repainted and materials swapped out every few years.

Affecting Spaces

6. Choose classics. Whether you’re selecting finishes, fixtures or furniture, if you go for classic designs, as opposed to trendy ones, your space is less likely to look dated over time. There’s a reason why certain items become classics, and that’s because there’s an aesthetic to them that continues to please over generations as various trends fall by the wayside.

Leicht Küchen AG

7. Make functionality a key goal. Make sure you have enough storage — I’ve never had clients who felt that they had too much. Also, try to maintain proper circulation and clearances in your space by not overcrowding it with furniture or millwork. Having barriers or obstacles within your space will grate on your nerves daily without you even realizing what’s bothering you.

Lawrence Mason Architects, PLLC

8. Don’t be afraid. Just because you want a design that will last doesn’t mean it shouldn’t excite you. I find that my clients often want to change their minds and opt for a “safe” design choice at the last minute. It’s important to trust your instincts. You most likely already know what you like, and that is unlikely to change all of a sudden. The reassuring thing about interiors is that they don’t have to be permanent. Your tastes may change over time, but the good news is that a refresh or remodel is always an option.

More: Embrace a Few Beautifully Weathered Surfaces for a Happy, Durable Home